Slip-on ferrule assembly for a billiard cue

ABSTRACT

A slip-on ferrule assembly for billiard cues includes a ferrule having a side wall and an end wall. The side wall has an outer surface and an inner surface. The end wall has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surfaces of the side wall and the end wall define a chamber in the ferrule. A tip is mounted on the outer surface of the end wall of the ferrule. A tenon is provided on one end of a conventional cue and inserted into the chamber of the ferrule. Means for tightly securing the ferrule to the tenon is fitted between the ferrule and the tenon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to billiard cues, and more particularly to a slip-on ferrule assembly for a billiard cue.

2. Description of the Related Art

For enabling a casual player to play with pool hall cues without the need to repair the cushion or play with a poor tip, U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,264 discloses a device having a ferrule with a chamber to removably be attached to the shaft's tip of a conventional billiard cue and an o-ring which is mounted in a groove on the shaft of the conventional billiard cue to provide a friction fit.

Such a design disclosed on the patent mentioned above has a disadvantage that only the portion having the o-ring of the shaft can be attached tightly to the ferrule, in other words, there still is spaces between the removable ferrule and the shaft of the billiard cue, so that the ferrule will be swayed when hitting the cue ball and the result is that the player will get a poor control to the cue ball.

Therefore there is a continuing need for a removable ferrule that can be tightly secured to the shaft of a billiard cue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a slip-on ferrule assembly that can provide a ferrule thereof to be easily and tightly attached to a conventional billiard cue. The assembly includes a ferrule which has a unitary elongated body made of substantially rigid material. The ferrule has a side wall, an end wall, the side wall has an outer surface and an inner surface and the end wall has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surfaces of the sidewall and the end wall define a chamber in the ferrule.

The assembly also includes a tip which is mounted on the outer surface of the end wall of the ferrule. The assembly still includes a tenon which is provided on one end of a conventional cue. In assembly, the tenon is inserted into the chamber of the ferrule. The assembly further includes means which is fitted between the ferrule and the tenon for tightly securing the ferrule to the tenon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a wood billiard cue is shown generally at 10 comprising an elongated shaft 12 that is provided at its one end with a cylindrical tenon 14. A ferrule 20 is attached to the tenon 14.

The ferrule 20 is of a unitary elongated body made of substantially rigid material and defining a side wall 22 and an end wall 24. The side wall 22 has an outer surface 26 and an inner surface 28. The end wall 24 has an outer surface 30 and an inner surface 32. Defined by the inner surfaces of the sidewall 22 and the end wall 24 is a chamber 40 having an opening 42 at one end thereof. In assembly, the tenon 14 is inserted into the chamber 40 from the opening 42.

A tip 50 is mounted on the outer'surface 30 of the end wall 24. Means for tightly secure the ferrule to the tenon of the preferred embodiment is an elastic layer 60 made of plastic materials. The elastic layer 60 has a predetermined thickness and is cohered on the side surface 16 and the upper surface 18 of the tenon 14. It must be mentioned herein that the elastic layer 60 can be only cohered on the side surface 18 of the tenon 14. For having a better performance, the chamber 40 is designed to have an inner diameter being smaller than the total outer diameter of the tenon 14 and the elastic layer 60 cohered thereon.

As such a design disclosed above, for having the elastic layer 60 fitted between the ferrule 20 and the tenon 14, the ferrule 20 can be tightly secured to the tenon 14 and easily removed therefrom. 

1. A slip-on ferrule assembly for a billiard cue comprising: a ferrule having a unitary elongated body made of substantially rigid material, said body defining a side wall, an end wall, said sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, said end wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a chamber defined by said inner surfaces of said side wall and said end wall, a tip mounted on said outer surface of said end wall of said ferrule, a tenon provided on one end of said billiard cue and inserted into said chamber of said ferrule, and means for tightly securing said ferrule to said tenon.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means includes an elastic layer cohered on the surface of said tenon.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said elastic layer is made of plastic materials.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tenon has a side surface and an upper surface.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said means includes an elastic layer cohered on said side surface of said tenon.
 6. The assembly according to claim 4, said means includes an elastic layer cohered on said side surface and said upper surface of said tenon. 